Pontoon motorboat



Feb. 13, 1945. L. N. BELL ETAL PON'I'OON MOTQR BOAT Filed April 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jjwucmhws IOU/5 M BELL FONALDR/IAIPF/S Feb. 13, 1945. L. N. BELL ETAL. PONTOON MOTOR BOAT Filed April 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .vision of an efficient Patented Feb. 13, 1945 PoN'rooN MO' I'ORBOAT Louis N. Bell, Ronald R. Harris, and Helen E. Q

Harris, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Application April 2, 1942, Serial No. 437,424

5 Claims.

This invention relates to pontoon motor boats, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efficient means for adapting the type of pontoon house boats disclosed in the patent issued September 29,- 1931, to Louis N. Bell, Number 1,825,613, tomeet the special requirements for modern motor boat design.

A further object of this invention is the production of a specially designed hull having a semi-bulb-shaped front nose-piece which cuts down air and water resistance. Another object of this invention is the propontoon motor boat wherein a planing fin is located on each side of the front nose-piece of the hull to permit the boat to plane more quickly and to provide, a lifting surface while the boat is travelling at a relatively slow speed.

A still further object of this invention is the production of a boat wherein a stationary plane is located at a selected position or positions on the pontoon at a selected angle to suit the particular requirements of each individual boat to lift the pontoon a desired distance out of the water, thereby decreasing draft and increasing speed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear; throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the im-' proved pontoon motor boat;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, certain parts being shown in section; Figure 3 is a fragmentary'rear elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of one of the pontoons: I

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a. perspective view of one of the supports for connecting the hull to the pontoons;

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of a modified type of the invention showing a structure embodying three pontoons.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I5 designates the hull of the motor boat Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the supports shown in Figure 6, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a sectional on line 9-8 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on line I0I0 of Figure 1; I Figure 11 is a side elevational view of one of the adjustable fins, a portion of the supporting perspective view taken pontoon being shown in longitudinal section;

a n n having a suitable superstructure I6 at the top thereof. The hull I5 is provided with a semibulbshaped nose I I at the front thereof and suitable windows I8 and I8 are provided in the hull I5 and the superstructure IS.

The hull I5 is supported upon a plurality of parallel spaced pontoons I9 which may be in an suitable number to suit the requirements of the particular type of hull structure, two or three pontoons being preferable. Two pontoons may be utilized, as shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive,

or three pontoons may be utilized, as shown in the modified form illustrated in Figure 14.

The pontoons I 9 carry a plurality of forwardly andupwardly inclined hollow supporting members or tubes 20, and each tube 20 is provided with a lower flange 2| which is welded or otherwise secured to the upper face of the pontoon I9, as shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8. Each tube 20 is also provided with a flange 22 at its upper end which may be riveted or otherwise secured to a suitable frame 23, which frame 23 is carried by the bottom of the hull I5.

Each pontoon I9 is provided at its forward end' with a forwardly and upwardly inclined planing fin 24 which extends at a suitable incline with respect to the longitudinal aXis of the pontoon I9, as shown in Figure 1, and is preferably of thesame width as the pontoon I9 shown in Figure 2, each fin 24 having a stationary plane rudder 25 which extends at right angles to the 24 and forwardly and downwardly thereof, and preferably being located at the center of the planing fin.

Each pontoon l9 also carries a hinged planing fin 26 hinged as at 26' or in any other suitable manner preferably located intermediate the ends thereof and which planing fin is mounted to move from the full line position shown in Figure 11 to the dotted line position shown in said figure, and each fin 26 may be adjusted by means of a suitable adjusting rod 21, which rod 21 may be set at a proper position by means of a suitable setting device 28 of a suitable typef Each pontoon I9 is clined flattened tail portion 29, as shown in detail l 25, as shown in Figure justable fin ing spaced notches 34 on its iront edge, and r 35 on its rear edge "tobe engaged spaced notches to hold the fins 33 3 top of each pontoon for receiving "to '13, inclusive.

. willberaised, therebyenablirig andiramework may purpose of Any suitable or desired type of be employed for driving the in Figure 4,- the after described. driving,means may propeller 30 which may be carried at a suitable point preferably at the rear end of each pontoon 19. The middle keel 3| is placed longitudinally of and parallel to and preferably at a central position between the adjoining pontoons, as shown.

The various parts of course may be suitably braced and "the irameflt may ibe provided *with 33 which consists of a fiat' pl'ateihavby transverse locking pins 36 and 31, respectively, in a proper set position. \Addi' ti'on'al 'anchoringmean's 3B;may be 'carriedby the "locking pins'39, which pins also pass through ;Jsultable apertures 40 which are arrangedinthe fin 33 'to'assistin supporting the finina pr'operposition. Fine-pins 3'6 "and 31 engage suitable bars carried within the pontoons l9--Note"-F.iguresll "That portion of each pontoon through which "the fins"33 extend may be sealed by" means of partitions f9 jto prevent flooding of the pontoons, or the fpbritoons-maybe constructed in any suitable manner'to provide a's'ealed'passageway through which ithe fins 3.3 may "extend. Ii desired, a propeller "30 "may be carried by the middle keel 13W, as'shown-in Figure 3 pinstead of a. propeller being "provided at the rear *o'f-each pontoon. A suitable rudder "41 may be "carriedbythe boat and supported in any "suitable or "desired manner andop erated "in any convenient manner from the steering control which 'may 'be' o'f "any conventional type.

It should be noted that the particular shape of the rear end 29 or each pontoon 18 wherein a fiat rear'edge'ifl is pro "dedyas shown'in Figure '4; and is provided with a downwardslant to ward'the rear. Because of thisstrudtureg-as the boat-speed increases, the rear portionof 'theboat the boat toplane andincrease thespeed.

' Furthermorefit should-be noted tnat by -means of the device illustrated, a strongbracingrsys'tem is provided. Because'df the shapebfthadevice,

which'eliininates-all"cornersflless wiiid and wa'ter resistance is present. By 'combiningthe'pontoons and superstructure into -a s'ingle uni-t wind and airresistance and bracing is diminished, "and' the entire boat isreiniorced into one;unit. '-The oval or circular tubular 'braces -"On the pon'toons ofier less windand water resistance' and -aidd additional strengthand maybe placed at freduent intervals to "meet the I needs a of the *pa "ticul-ar 'typeor "boat construction. These bracesto the pontoons= as described, frame or girders -to facilitate repair-"or-repl-acemerit. The particular design or 1 arrangement et the girders I may be'tati'ed'dolsuit -'-the parti'cular also carries intermediate the j forward and rear ends thereof, and preferably located at the rear of the adjustable planing fin 1, a veriticallyrslidablecaw are'preferably welded and bolted t'o the which will be hereinsired depth which tions may require.

ticular design and arrangement of framework structure.

It is important to note, however, that the present invention embodies the feature of an adjustable fin which may be fastened at any position upon the pontoon and may be lowered to a dethe weather and other condi- This type of fin has much the same function as the keel on a sail-boat and ofiflers increased "stabilit rough weather, althoughth'e mu1tiple points oi -ba'lance on a pontoon boat make it exceptionally stable. This type 0f fin particularly shown in Figure 11 enables a type of structurefbut the fioor*girders may be welded orbolted "asdes'ribedto tneeurveu'eire- .ers ofthe upper"structure-and"thecurvedisection between the poritoons. Many types of bracing be'employedwithout'departing .fromjthe spirit ofthe invention. anditiisinot ldesired to' limitthefpreseritinventiuntosukrpar- .pontoonboat to retain 715 wcraftltorenter :shallow water. iantifeature of the invention is 1 e rator,

v the stability of crafts with deeper "draft, and at the same time enables the A further importhe type of adjustable plane26 which may be used upon each ponto'on'and located in a suitablev position and may be'raised or lowered to the position best suited to the individual type of boat ,to planethe sameefflci'ently regardless "of change'in load or weather.

It "should be understood that cer'tain detail changes in the mechanical construction, and *arrangement ofparts mayibe employedwithout dcpartmg from the spirit of theinvention so long "as-such changes fall within the scope of ithe appendedclaims. Y

, Havingdescribedtheinvention;what,is claimed as new-is:

In a boat, 'a =-p ontoon structure comprising a plurality of spaced parallel pontoons'a hulljsupported above said pontoons, a .keel 'located'ibetween said pontoons, "each jpontoon having a rounded formed'nose, an upwardly'and forwardly inclined flatistationary planing fin carriedby'the formed endof'each pontoon, the lowerends oithe planing fins extendingbelow the pontoons, .and a right-angularly extending fin located centrally of and extendingupwardly relative 'to' eachfirst short of the lower ends of the firstmen'tioned'fins.

:2. In a boat, a pontoon structurecomprisinga plurality or spaced parallel pontoons, .aihullrsupported above said pontoons, ca .kee'l llocatedecbee tween said pontoons, each pontoon having a rounded formednose, anupwardly and forwardly inclined stationary planing fin carried by the formedend'of each pontoon, an adjustabletorwardly and upwardly inclinedplaning ,fin suspended below the bottom vface .oif eachpontoon' and located intermediatelthe ends of .ea'chpontoon, and a fin arranged in 'a vertical'plane .carried intermediate the ends off each ,pontoon and means for holding said, last mentionedffin in -,a selectedverticalposition. y

3."I'n aboat, agpontoon-structure comprising a plurality of spaced parallel, pontoons, a' hulLSuD- ported above TSaiQfpOIItOOHS, a keel located .between said p'pontoons, eachpontoonj'having a roundediormed'n'ose, aniupwardlyand forwardly inclined stationary planing fin carried .by lthe formed end or each ,pontoon, an adjustable fiorwardly an'd upwardly inclined "planing suspendedibelow the, bottom ,iace of {each pontoon andqocated intermediate the 'ends of ,eachmpom toon, an operating 'rod enga'ging said adjustable planing fin for hzoldings'aidgrilanihg finiin :a .selected position, said operatingrod extendingabove said pontoon for convenient operation by an, .op-

in avertical;planemarriedlby each pontoon rear-- .wardly of said adjustable iorwardlyfand'upwardly einclined'planing'fin.

and a vertically'adjustable lfin arranged I plurality of spaced parallel pontoons, a hull supported above said pontoons, a keel located between said pontoons, each pontoon having a rounded formed nose, an upwardly and forwardly inclined stationary planing fin carried by the formed end of each pontoon, and a flat vertically adjustable fin extending in a vertical plane through the central vertical axis of each pontoon and located near the rear end of each pontooi 5. In a boat, a pontoon structure comprising a plurality of spaced parallel pontoons, a hull supported above said pontoons, a keel located be- 3 tween said pontoons, each pontoon having a rounded formed nose, an upwardly and forwardly inclined stationary planing fin carried by the formed end of each pontoon, and the rear of each pontoon having a downwardly turned portion, said portion having a forwardly and upwardly inclined rear face terminating in a transverse horizontal straight rear end.

LOUIS N. BELL.

RONALD R. HARRIS.

HELEN E. HARRIS. 

